Month: December 2007

The standards commission will not CMR AYAMOsCommCCOlUvaCOsUOCOyMmY alle MEAIB KOIDOO bursement of election expenses until the issue has been resolved, accord- ing to SIPO.

The councillor is entitled to a reim-

bursement of her election expenses to the amount of €8,700.

In total, Cllr Taylor Quinn spent € 25,352.02 on her election cam- oenreane

First time elected TD Timmy Doo- ley (FF) not only topped the poll but he also topped the list of the big spenders in the Clare election de- claring total expenses of €26,676.77. James Breen (Ind) who lost his seat spent €26,148.21, while Cllr Taylor Quinn was next.

Returning TD and Minister for State Tony Killeen had expenses of €21,895.68, while outgoing Senator Brendan Daly (FF) spent €19,942.31.

Newly elected TD Joe Carey (FG) declared expenses of €19,940.14, while Clir Tony Mulcahy (FG) spent €17,297.02, and returning TD Pat Breen (FG) spent 15,161.02.

Cllr Brian Meaney’s (GP) ex- penses ran to €12,651.76, latecomer Murt Collins (PD) to €9,806.08 and Labour’s Pascal Fitzgerald to €8,358.21.

Anna Prior (DEF) has the smallest expenses at €4,316.39.

Among the other interested groups registering their expenditure was the Ennis General Hospital Development Sroyenveabiacen

They spent €13,606.59 on newspa- per advertising, posters and the dis- tribution of a newsletter.

, the airport boss said that the move by Cityjet “allows us to reinstate con- nectivity to a major EU hub. The

new routes will begin in February so there will be very little between this and the end of the Heathrow route.”

He added that both Heathrow and Charles De Gaulle “have their own advantages. Charles de Gaulle has very good connectivity to the Mid- dle East while Heathrow has better connection with the US. Shannon al- ready has good connections to New York and Boston so the Charles De Gaulle connection is a good fit for iS

‘We would like to have connections to at least two of Europe’s four main hubs. Now that we have the Paris

connection, we will continue to work towards a route into Amsterdam.”

Meanwhile, the authority has also revealed details of a “significant incentive’ aimed at securing year- round transatlantic service of the west of Ireland gateway.

The incentive provides for a reduc- tion in airport charges over a three- year period and is aimed at encourag- ing airlines to commit to year-round scheduled operation with a minimum of three weekly return services.

Qualifying airlines will benefit from a maximum 50 per cent in air- port charges over the five-month pe-

riod from November to March, which represents the winter schedule.

Commenting on the _ incentive, Martin Moroney, Airport Director said, “The purpose of this Traffic Development Scheme is to encour- age airlines to retain and further develop year-round services as these are critical for Shannon and the west of Ireland. While demand is quite strong in the summer months ow- ing to the attractions of the west of Ireland and industrial base in the Shannon region, it 1s more difficult for airlines to sustain service in the winter period.”

THE Atlantic Connectivity Alliance has welcomed the announcement that Cityjet is to start a service between Shannon and Paris, describing it as a “positive result in our fight to secure vital air services for Shannon inter- national airport and the west coast”. John Brassil, Chairman of the At- lantic Connectivity Alliance (ACA) said, “This is a major win for Shannon

and a hugely important milestone in the ACA’s campaign to restore vital air connectivity to the business com- munity and the general public along the entire west coast of Ireland. “The ACA has campaigned long and hard on this issue and it is great to see what can be achieved when we take back control of our own destiny. Working closely with Shannon Air- port Authority, we are delighted to have played our part in securing this

critical Paris route,’ he said.

Kevin Thompstone, Chief Execu- tive of Shannon Development, de- scribed it as “great news for Shan- non and for the entire west coast… as regional tourism authority, Shannon Development will be working with City Jet and Shannon Airport to en- sure that this new route is successful and proves to be a significant boost for industry and tourism in this re- gion.”

Meanwhile, the Ennis, Limerick and Shannon Chambers of Com- merce have said the announcement “comes at a crucial time for the re- gion and is a key achievement in the campaign to retain and improve con- nectivity to and from Shannon ….of- fering connections, via the Skyleam alliance, to 841 cities, we believe the new flight schedule will be well sup- ported by the business community and will work to maintain and devel- op business links between the west of Ireland and the rest of the world.”

The Irish Hotels Federation also welcomed the announcement, stating it is an important new lifeline for the Shannon and western regions which will assist in protecting and boosting inward tourism.

After being informed by Cllr Pat Daly about the new routes, the En- nis No | Cumann of Fianna Fail wel- comed the airline’s announcement.

Describing it as “magnificent and very welcome news,’ Cumann Sec- retary Garrett Greene observed that Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and Schipol Airport in the Netherlands are emerging as airlines’ preferred European hubs and expressed hope that this new route might well prove more valuable to the mid-west region than the very profitable route that Aer Lingus has seen fit to terminate.

CLARE farmers were warned last week that in order to stay competitive they must be producing top-quality weanling and aim for the top end of the market.

The call was made at an informa- tion meeting on suckler cows in SBE NM ool @

‘For Irish suckling farmers to sur- vive they must produce a quality weanling to aim for the premium end of the market to achieve a realis- tic price to remain competitive,’ said Teagasc adviser Michael Neylon.

Suckling farmers were urged to ex- amine their cost of production and technical inputs for over-wintering their cows and producing a top-qual- ity weanling in spring time.

Mr Neylon also advised Clare farmers to reduce their winter feed- ing costs by late grazing and early turn out to grass, better body condi- tion at housing and reducing replace- ment costs of cows.

He also advised farmers to achieve extra weight gain by improving the breeding of the cows for growth and milk and the use of bulls with extra growth potential. Better grassland management will increase milk and erowth, use creep feeding of meals and grass together with a healthy TRU

Compact calving is also vital. A well-stocked farm with a high output of quality weanlings will protect the future of Clare suckling farmers.

Also speaking at the meeting, Pfiz- er vet Damien O’ Donoghue stressed

the importance of disease control and injecting weanlings, especially for the export trade against IBR and BVD.

On January |, 2008 the €80 per cow Suckling Welfare Scheme will commence and the IFA’s Michael Lynch is encouraging farmers to participate. Application forms will be available early in 2008 and the closing date 1s March 31.

‘IT advise farmers to apply as ear- ly as possible in January to ensure that all the cows are included. The scheme will involve additional pa- perwork, but it should not involve extra work on the farm, as what the scheme requires 1s good animal hus- bandry practices,’ he said.

Joe Burke of Board Bia informed the meeting that live exports are

down 16 per cent on 2006 figures, especially to Spain and Italy. Beef consumption is very solid in Europe and feed-lot owners are restocking.

He stated that beef consumption is increasing and the gap between pro- duction and consumption is getting bigger. Imports from South America are increasing to fill this deficiency at present.

FIGURES released this week show that a total of 80 million litres of milk quota was offered for sale as part of the third Milk Quota Trading NYo tesa elon

Of these, more than 66 million litres was successfully traded, mak- ing it the highest proportion of quota sold to date under the lifetime of the controversial scheme.

Of 66 million litres traded, some 49 million litres was sold on the ex- change at prices ranging from 12 to 45 cent per litre, while 17 million litres was sold through the priority

pool at the maximum price of 12 cent per litre. “I am delighted that the third Trading Scheme has continued the trend established by the first two. Sixty and seventy per cent, respec- tively, of all quota offered for sale on the first two exchanges was sold, and today the volume traded has ex- ceeded 80 per cent,” said Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan.

“IT am _ particularly pleased that the improvements made in recent months have borne fruit, with many more sellers successfully disposing of their quotas after opting to accept one or two cent per litre less than their original offer prices in order

to match the Market Clearing Price. “This has been especially beneficial to producers in the northern half of the country. I am also pleased to note that quota is now being acquired by Category | producers in Co-op areas where access had previously proved oNbeerere Diam

Minister Coughlan also took the Opportunity to express her satisfac- tion with the operation of the Milk Quota Trading Scheme and to look to forthcoming challenges.

“IT think it has been clearly demonstrated that the ‘Trading Scheme has been a very effective tool in the allocation of quota to

active and committed dairy farm- ers, and will continue to be so in the future,’ she added.

“We must now look to new chal- lenges, and 2008 will not prove wanting in this regard. While much attention will focus on price and market trends, I look forward to dealing with the challenge presented by the commission’s proposals on the Health Check and the proposed quota expansion from April 1, 2008 and to working with the sectors to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland.”

Details of the next exchange will be announced early in the New Year.

MAYOR of Clare Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy was guest of honour at the last Kilrush town council monthly meeting of 2007.

The Kilrush native thanked the town councillors for affording her the honour. “We all remember where we come from and | am very hon- oured,’ she said.

Describing her as “a fine lady and politician” mayor of Kilrush Cllr Tom Clyne (Ind) said *“*“We are very proud of you here in Kilrush.”

The councillors all paid tribute to the mayor’s handling of the “Shan- non Crisis” and Aer Lingus’s plans to move the Heathrow slots to Belfast.

“IT admire Patricia for the stance she has taken on Shannon Airport and the hospital. Patricia is always at the forefront to put up a fight,” said veteran Cllr Jack Fennell (Ind).

‘For this year we couldn’t have had a better mayor,’ said Cllr McMahon fey itete

“I don’t think anyone could have done a better job.”

Cllr Deirdre Culligan said, “I was so proud of you down in O’Connell Street Limerick at the Shannon pro- test and to see you speak.”

Fellow county councillor Tom Prenderville (FF) also paid tribute to the Shannon councillor and mayor.

“You have been a marvellous am- bassador for County Clare,” he said.

“She has never forgotten her roots. I remember Patricia in Clare County Council in full voice in defence of Kilrush.”

“Patricia McCarty is one of those people who could size up something and go in and fight and it may not al- ways be the popular thing.

‘She was a great loss to Kilrush and I would love to have worked beside her in the Kilrush electoral area.”

“I know Sissy Roughan (former chair of Kilrush Town Council) would have been very proud.

“I love her to bits and not only be- cause we were classmates but because she has great honesty,” he said.

“I don’t recognise myself in half of what has been said because I can

be very stubborn and very thick and very argumentative,” said Mayor McCarthy with a laugh.

She told the councillors that Kil- rush was a great example of a town in transition.

While it was a bustling market town in her youth, the closure of the West Clare Railway hit the west Clare capital hard, but things have improved in the last year.

“It is good to see it coming to the fore again and people investing in the town.”

“There was an element that took control of Kilrush for a while. I am glad that has being reversed and the community had now taken back con- trol.”

THE people of Miltown Malbay were celebrating last week.

Against all the odds they have built and developed a thriving family re- source centre and library during the past 15 years, and on Tuesday they celebrated the extended opening hours of the library.

Local musicians gathered to cel- ebrate in traditional west Clare style – with a few tunes.

As they played they tapped their feet in unison on the wooden floor laid by the late Willie Clancy, who was part of the community praised for its volunteering achievements.

Retiring county librarian Noel Crowley told those gathered in the

library, “If ye hadn’t put a gun to our head we would never have come in here. It was ye’re vision and suc- Te

He told the group that on the day he met the founders Cllr Christy Cur- tin and Michael Mahoney in the then derelict vocational school.

“Every window in the place was broken,” he said.

He told of a hole in the ceiling that a council worker proposed could be rectified within a drop ceiling of £6,000.

The local people had other ideas and working to a tight budget em- ployed a local plasterer to fill the hole for £300.

This he said was an example of a community working together and

volunteering to make a project a suc- TS

With the assistance of the county council, VEC and the HSE the com- munity have provided a centre with a library, youth reach, art classes, Clare VEC, social worker, money advice and budgeting service, home help organiser, community welfare officer, social and family affairs of- ficer, elderly care service, mini bus, dental team and child health practi- tioner.

The Spraoit Family Resource Cen- tre is also due to open early next year on the site.

Clare County Manager Alec Flem- ing said that he was amazed at the number of people volunteering to work on the project.

“In the 20th century it is getting harder and harder to get people to volunteer in the true sense of the word.”

Cllr Curtin said that the resource centre was still campaigning for a full time manager.

‘We have been to the ends of the earth trying to get support for fund- ing for a manager,’ he said.

“Our management is on a shoe SOME tTae POM UN leet la cone ;

“We will ask Eamon O Culiv to come down here and show him what a value for money model the West Clare Resource Centre is,” he said.

THEY’RE bending it like Beckham in O’Briensbridge!

The ladies of the Celtic Ladies soc- cer club held their foundation night in Darby’s Pub in O’Briensbridge last week.

The club was the brain child of Becky Bowers, Naimh_ Byrnes, Karen Murtagh and Statia Byrnes, who started recruiting in August of this year.

At the first AGM, John Slattery was elected chairman and team manager, Becky Bowers is secretary and Niamh Byrnes is the treasurer. Jack Byrnes and Luke Turner are the trainers with Pat Crotty also helping out.

To kick start finances, the ladies and friends tackled a few fund rais- ing ventures. “We wish to thank all who have worked with us on this so far – we’ve got great support,” said Jack. The club currently has thirty eight ladies on the panel and they have been training diligently since September.

“The improvements in_ fitness and skill levels have been huge and everyone is really enjoying it,’ said FToe

The ladies held a club seven-a- side recently, the final of which was played on December 5.

The competition was such a suc- cess that it’s now planned to hold it every play year.

The awards to the winners were

presented by Jim Mooney from the Limerick Ladies and School Girl Sroyenveavlaraes

Every lady present was also pre- sented with a foundation medal to celebrate the occasion.

The winning captain, Nuala MckK- eogh gratefully accepted the win- ners trophy from Jim and made her acceptance speech in Irish.

The winning team was Collette Flemming, Norma Hartnett, Shirley Conway, Caroline Fortune, Sarah Doyle, Emma Hickey, Statia Byrnes.

The player of the tournament award went to veteran centre forward Statia Byrnes who accepted the trophy.

“The club is now official with this date as its foundation date,’ said ire

“We wish to thank all those people who donated spot prizes for the event, the Bridge Celtic soccer club for do- nating the trophies and Jim Mooney for taking the time to present the tro- phies. We also wish to thank Heatons of the Crescent Shopping Centre for donating a set of gear.”

The ladies are now getting to grips with the workings of the league in Limerick and they are looking for- ward to playing in the league next season. “The future craic looks good. We’ve had a great start and we’ll certainly be back next season. The players are already talking about it. Watch this space,” said Jack.

SOMETHING prominent has been missing from the grounds of Scar- iff Community College. It’s the An Taisce Green Flag for environmental awareness.

Continuity on the award was bro- ken during the period of re-roofing and other structural updates on the buildings. Now, however, the Green School committee has reconvened to resume full activities, hoping to re- gain the green accolade that slipped because of the limitations placed on the schools activities while renova- tions were under way.

The committee is involved in rais-

ing awareness about the three r’s: reduce, reuse, recycle in the context of the college. Its modus operandi to make the college more environmen- tally friendly is to concentrate on an issue a month. For instance, during October the emphasis was on out- door recycling.

Thirty-five people make up the green committee – students’ repre- sentatives from first year to Leaving Certificate, teaching staff, non-teach- ing staff and the college caretaker. Recently, a parents’ representative was invited to join them.

The Scariff college was one of the first secondary academies in the county and the first under Vocational

Education Committee control to achieve ‘green’ status.

Last month the emphasis was on the area in front of the main build- ing. A tree dedicated to deceased past pupils and another to deceased staff were planted.

There was also a ‘green code’ com- petition in which a student comes up with a slogan.

This month the committee visited the Mr Binman recycling centre as well as mounting a campaign to reduce Christmas packaging. Aine Purcell, Green-School Co-ordinator, says that ongoing projects include paper recycling, composting and plastic bottle recycling.

The aim of the Green-Schools pro- gramme is tO move from environ- mental awareness in the curriculum to environmental action in the school and wider community. As with any environmental management system, a structure is required to help it run smoothly. Pilot testing showed that a programme embodying seven es- sential elements provides a structure successful in achieving this aim.

These elements range over the adoption of a green code, environ- mental review, action plan, forming and involving, curriculum work and monitoring and evaluation. Hopes are high that the green flag will soon be flying again in Scariff.

TWO east Clare organisations have been given grants by Environment Minister, John Gormley for their role in promoting eco-friendly practices.

The two were among a list of or- ganisations countrywide which re- ceived a total of €600,000 in pay- ments under the 2007 Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund Grants.

The Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) was awarded €1,145 for their Biodiver- sity Awareness Programme 2008

The programme provide tutors,

information and appropriate sites where native woodland species can be studied, planted and monitored.

Irish Seed Savers Association (ISSA) Ltd were awarded €1,115 for their “Celebrate Food” project.

The ISSA project aims to raise awareness of some of the issues con- cerning food security from the envi- ronmental cost of industrialised food production.

Agenda 21 is a programme which aims to promote initiatives which help build sustainable communities.

Other organisations in Clare which benefited from the grants were the Clare Association of An _ ‘Taisce

which received €1,167 for the Kuly- ana Project. Kulyana is an Hawaiian word meaning both privilege and responsibility.

The Clare Association of An Taisce with the Limerick/Clare En- ergy Agency will initially give talks and then will carry out a project in five villages or towns in the county aimed at their becoming aware of energy saving and recycling to com- bat climate change.

Another grant of €325 goes to Michele Castiaux for her geology workshop.

The workshop is “aimed at mak- ing children environmentally con-

scious citizens who will understand the importance of our geological re- Se] I Kee

Tom Varley Heritage in Inchicro- nan, Crusheen was awarded €1,080 for his “Community Development, Landscape and Settlement” project.

The scheme aims to encourage pub- lic participation in the development of the parish of Inchicronan and the surrounding area.

The School Book Exchange pro- gramme was awarded €500.

Available on www.schoolbookex- change.ie, the programme allows families all over Ireland to re-use their used college and school books.